Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyler Blendowski.
Hi Tyler, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Tropical Seas Clothing started with a love for the ocean and a simple idea: represent the lifestyle I loved while making a positive impact on the place that inspired it.
I grew up living on the back bay at the Jersey Shore, spending my early years fishing and exploring Brick, Brielle, Point Pleasant, Manasquan and Spring Lake. After a spearfishing trip in the Point Pleasant Inlet with a close friend, I saw how much pollution was in the places I loved. I wanted to combine my passion for the ocean with something I could build myself.
On May 25, 2017, I started Tropical Seas Clothing.
I had no storefront, warehouse, or large team—just an idea I was figuring out as I went. My first three clothing drops sold out, and my first 200 sales came from the trunk of my 2013 Ford Fusion. I drove around with shirts in my car, reaching out to people and turning the idea into a business.
Over time, Tropical Seas grew from shirts sold out of my car into a clothing brand built around the ocean lifestyle, good vibes, and conservation. Through our partnership with 4ocean, every purchase helps fund the removal of two pounds of trash from the ocean.
The original idea remains the same: make people feel connected to the ocean, even when they’re far from it. Tropical Seas represents the ocean, the Jersey Shore, fishing, friends, adventure, and enjoying life while protecting the place that makes it all possible.
That’s where the “Good Vibe Tide” comes from.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. In fact, I think some of the hardest parts of building Tropical Seas are also what shaped me the most as an entrepreneur.
When I started the company, I didn’t have a storefront, a warehouse, a big team, or a business background that taught me how to do everything. I had an idea, a lot of determination, and I was willing to figure things out as I went. I had to learn product development, manufacturing, marketing, sales, websites, customer service, finances, and pretty much every other part of running a business through trial and error.
There were definitely periods where things were slow and I questioned whether I was doing enough or whether the company was going to become what I believed it could be. There were unexpected expenses, mistakes, products that didn’t perform the way I hoped, and plenty of times when I had to reinvest money into the business instead of taking it for myself.
Another challenge was simply getting people to believe in a brand that nobody knew. When you’re starting from nothing, you don’t have a reputation or a huge audience to fall back on. You have to earn every customer.
My biggest lesson has been that entrepreneurship isn’t usually about one huge breakthrough. It’s about being willing to make adjustments, learn from your mistakes, keep showing up, and continue moving forward when things aren’t going exactly the way you planned.
The struggles forced me to become much more resourceful. I learned to look at problems differently and find ways to accomplish things without having the resources of a much larger company.
And honestly, we’re still not happy with where we are—and I mean that in a positive way. I’m incredibly proud of how far Tropical Seas has come, especially when I think about where we started, but I also know we’re nowhere near where I believe this company can go. There is so much more we want to accomplish with the brand, our products, and our impact on ocean conservation.
I don’t want Tropical Seas to simply become a successful clothing company. I want it to become something much bigger—a brand that people genuinely connect with and a company that can make a measurable difference for the oceans.
So no, it definitely wasn’t a smooth road, and it still isn’t. But I think that’s part of what keeps me motivated. We’re proud of what we’ve built, but we’re still hungry for what’s next.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Tropical Seas Clothing?
Tropical Seas Clothing is an ocean-inspired lifestyle brand that was born right here on the Jersey Shore. At its core, we create clothing for people who love the ocean and the lifestyle that comes with it—whether they’re actually on the beach, out fishing, traveling somewhere tropical, or just trying to bring a little of that feeling into everyday life.
We specialize in tropical and coastal clothing, with a strong focus on men’s resort wear, Hawaiian shirts, tropical prints, hats, tees, and other pieces designed around that relaxed vacation feeling. Our philosophy is pretty simple: clothing should make you feel good, look good, and remind you of the places and experiences you love.
What sets Tropical Seas apart is that we’re not trying to separate the lifestyle from the mission. The ocean isn’t just a theme we put on a shirt. It’s the reason the company exists in the first place. My background and personal connection to the ocean have always influenced the brand, and conservation is built into what we’re trying to accomplish.
We’re also very intentional about how our products are made. We work with manufacturing partners that offer more sustainable materials and production options, and we continually look for ways to reduce the environmental impact of what we produce. Through our partnership with 4ocean, every Tropical Seas purchase helps fund the removal of two pounds of trash from the ocean.
But I think one of the biggest things that sets us apart is the personality of the brand. We don’t want Tropical Seas to feel overly corporate, overly serious, or like another company simply using sustainability as a marketing buzzword. We want it to feel like the friend you meet on vacation who immediately makes the day more fun.
That’s where our “Home of the Good Vibe Tide” identity comes from.
I’m probably most proud of the fact that Tropical Seas still feels like the same idea I had when I started it in 2017. We’ve grown, evolved, and learned a tremendous amount, but the heart of the brand hasn’t changed. It still comes back to the ocean, the Jersey Shore, good friends, fishing, adventure, relaxation, and enjoying life.
And we’re not satisfied with where we are yet. I want Tropical Seas to eventually become much more than a clothing brand. I see an opportunity to build a community around ocean lovers and use the reach of the brand to educate people, support conservation, and inspire more people to care about the health of our oceans.
If someone discovers Tropical Seas, I want them to see more than a cool Hawaiian shirt. I want them to understand the story behind it and feel like they’re becoming part of something—a lifestyle, a community, and ultimately a movement to protect the ocean that inspires all of us.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My biggest advice to anyone starting out is to start before you feel ready.
When I started Tropical Seas, I didn’t have everything figured out. I didn’t have a big budget, a team, a storefront, or some perfect business plan. I had an idea that I believed in, and I was willing to learn whatever I needed to learn to make it work. If I had waited until I knew everything, Tropical Seas probably never would have started.
I also think you have to genuinely care about what you’re building. Tropical Seas came from my connection to the ocean and the Jersey Shore, and that passion has carried me through a lot of difficult periods. When things get tough—and they will—having a real reason behind what you’re doing gives you something to fall back on.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes either. You’re going to make them. I’ve made plenty. The important thing is to learn from them quickly, make the adjustment, and keep moving. Sometimes the biggest lessons come from the things that didn’t work.
I’d also tell people not to obsess over what everyone else is doing. There will always be another brand that’s bigger, another competitor that’s growing faster, or someone online who makes it look like they’ve figured everything out. Focus on building something that is genuinely yours. Your personality, your story, and the reason you started can become some of your biggest advantages.
And finally, be patient—but don’t become complacent. I’m extremely proud of how far Tropical Seas has come, but we’re still not happy with where we are. I think that’s a healthy mindset. Celebrate your progress, but keep looking for ways to get better.
You don’t need to have the whole road mapped out. You just need to take the first step, keep learning, and be willing to keep going when the road gets difficult.
Pricing:
- USA Free Shipping $75
- Products Range $30-$85
- First Time Purchase Discounts
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tropicalseasclothing.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tropicalseasclothing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tropicalseasclothing
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@tropicalseasclothing
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/tropicalseasclothing
